Dreams Quote by Anna Kavan
““I'd never been anything but 'in transit' through my life. In a sudden, complete, instantaneous vision, I saw it as a train and myself as a passenger always changing compartments, moving on to another before getting to know the self left behind in the last carriage. I'd always presumed these old outgrown personalities has ceased to exist when I discarded them, possibly lingering on for a while as remembered ghosts of what they had been, till they finally sank into oblivion, dead and forgotten. Now, for the first time, I understood that it wasn't possible to discard any part of myself.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The House of Sleep by Anna Kavan, 1961
Personal identity is a continuum; each past self persists and informs the present, even if we try to discard it.
In simple terms: We cannot fully discard parts of ourselves.
Key Takeaway
Embrace all aspects of your past self.
Themes
identity
selfhood
continuity
Mood
reflective
introspective
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- therapy
- creative writing
- personal growth
- mindfulness
Key Concepts
psychology
memory
self-integration
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you honor past selves while moving forward?
- What parts of yourself feel most abandoned?
A Different Perspective
Discarding parts may lead to unresolved inner conflict.
